3 Reasons Why You Did Not Get a Medical Claim Settlement

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Medicine is expensive. Most cannot afford medical care out of pocket. So, our medical system depends on insurance to help pay the bill. Insurance companies, despite their ads, are for-profit companies who do not want to spend a cent more than their policies dictate. This is their nature. This is how they make money. It is to their advantage and patients are poised to benefit least.

As such, many find they do not get the settlements they need. Here are three reasons why you did not get a medical claim settlement.

 

Not Having Enough or Correct Documents

 

Keep every related document you receive regarding your medical experience. If everyone did so, a large number of settlements would not have the chance to be denied. Keeping all your documents in order is a “help them help you” scenario. Insurance adjusters are mandated to provide justification for every penny they dole out. If you have all of your receipts and documents in order, adjusters will have more reasons to say yes than no.

 

Items to have on hand include receipts, medical bills, invoices, past pay stubs for lost work, police records and doctor reports if required.

 

Moving Too Quick … or Far Too Slow

 

As businesses, insurance companies try to settle claims quickly and cheaply. Though you might have gotten a settlement, you likely did not get a fair medical claim settlement and you risk out of pocket expenses from unforeseen symptoms.

 

On the opposite side of the spectrum, most states have a set time window in which you can make a claim. The time frame varies from days to years depending on location. Hiring local legal help when you’re unsure on filing claims is your safest option for navigating the medical claim landscape.

 

Signing Medical Releases to Another’s Insurance Company

 

If your own insurance company needs specific medical information to process your bills according to your policy, go ahead.

 

If an at fault individual’s insurance is pushing you to sign medical releases, do not touch a pen. Often, they will try to use your medical history to mitigate or negate your claim entirely.

 

When in doubt at any stage of a medical claim settlement, please reach out to a lawyer who specializes in claims. The attorneys at Pat Maloney know how to work with insurance companies and have a success record to prove it. If you need help, call today!

 

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Oil Rig Injury — Hire an Expert to Represent You

Oil rig technology and regulations have come a long way since the early days of offshore drilling, but oil rig injury accidents are still all too common. Human error is most often the biggest contributing factor. Those errors aren’t limited to those of the workers on the platform. The roots of an oil rig injury can often be traced to humans back on land.

That’s why hiring an attorney well versed in oil rig rules and regulations is critical. An experienced attorney is your best chance to trace the cause of an accident back to the source.

What are some of the most likely conditions to result in an oil rig injury?

  • Transport to and from the rig
    Offshore oil rigs, by definition, are in deep-water areas known for strong currents, high waves, and extreme weather. An oil rig injury often occurs when workers are being transferred to or from shore, and their boats and helicopters run afoul of these unpredictable conditions. Injuries can range from simple sprains to death.
  • Improper or inadequate training
    Workers who have not been thoroughly trained in safety procedures can put other crew members at risk from falling objects, poorly secured safety lines, spilled substances, and more.
  • Fatigue and emotional factors
    Crew members who have not been scheduled enough hours off to rest are at higher risk of oil rig injury. In addition, not enough attention is paid to the emotional and psychological stress of spending long periods of time on the rig, away from home and family and among crew members with whom there may be personality conflicts.
  • Faulty equipment
    Poor-quality tools, machinery, and containers can lead to myriad oil rig injury accidents, including fires, explosions, slips and falls, broken bones, and even amputation and death. Accidents like these aren’t always the fault of the workers themselves, and it takes the fact-finding skills of an experienced attorney to dig for the truth — and place the liability where it belongs.

As a Texas-based law-firm, Pat Maloney’s oil rig injury attorneys have the training and experience to represent your best interests. Contact us today.

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Are You Looking for Smart Legal Strategies? A San Antonio Workplace Injury Lawyer Can Help

The biggest mistake you can make after getting hurt on the job? Failing to hire a San Antonio workplace injury lawyer right away. Maybe you can trust that your employer will do right by you and help you get treated and back on the job without putting up a fight. The truth is, however, once the insurance company gets involved, decisions may be out of your employer’s hands.

 

Here are a few reasons consulting a San Antonio work injury lawyer as soon as possible is the smartest legal strategy to protect yourself, your family, and your long-term career.

 

You Might Learn You Don’t Need a Lawyer

In some cases, the situation is pretty much cut-and-dried. An insurance company probably won’t argue against fair compensation if:

 

  • There’s no dispute that the injury happened while performing your job.
  • Your treatment was uncomplicated and recovery uneventful.
  • You went back to work soon after the injury with no ill effects.
  • The incident didn’t result in disability, short- or long-term.

Finding out you don’t need a lawyer gives you peace of mind and in virtually all instances, doesn’t cost you a dime for the initial consultation.

 

If You Do Need a Lawyer, the Sooner the Better

During your initial consultation, an experienced San Antonio workplace injury lawyer will know the red flags to look for that indicate your road to recovery could be bumpy without proper representation:

 

  • Your initial workers’ compensation claim was denied because the insurance company claims the injury wasn’t work related or you missed a filing deadline. In any case, denial means you’re facing a long, complicated appeals process, right around the time you need to be focused on recovery.
  • You’re facing roadblocks to gaining access to proper treatment. If this is the case, it’s time to get a lawyer, especially if you have a pre-existing condition.
  • Your claim of permanent disability is denied. There are so many factors that figure into this decision, it’s critical to have an experienced San Antonio workplace injury lawyer at your side to help you navigate the maze of regulations and requirements.

 

 

Don’t get caught with your guard down. Contact the Law Offices of Pat Maloney as soon as a workplace injury occurs.

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4 Essential Things You Need to Know About Construction Accidents

If you work construction, accidents are more likely to happen than if you worked an office job (though of course, accidents happen there too).

On a job site, just being extra careful isn’t enough. Specific training in workplace safety is essential to preventing construction accidents in the first place. These most common “fatal four” are the types of accidents you aren’t likely to encounter in other, unrelated industries:

 

  1. Falling
    Job sites are fraught with opportunities to trip and fall. Uneven, slippery surfaces are the most likely culprit, but sometimes the very devices that are there for your safety could be at fault, such as improperly constructed scaffolding, faulty or worn safety harnesses, ladders that aren’t securely anchored, etc.

 

  1. Moving objects
    Such “moving objects” could include a tool dropped from an overhead platform or scaffold, a stray nail or staple ejected from a pneumatic tool, collapsed masonry, or even a vehicle whose driver didn’t properly set an emergency brake or take proper care in driving through a work area.

 

  1. Electrocution
    Power lines are always one of the biggest concerns when seeking to prevent construction accidents, because this type of hazard can be hanging overhead or hiding underground. In addition, tools that require electricity must be properly grounded, or anyone in the immediate vicinity is at risk.

 

  1. Crushed between objects
    These types of construction accidents are the definition of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. This category includes getting caught under unsecured heavy machinery, unstable piles of materials such as gravel, and deep trench cave-ins.

 

Serious Injuries Need Serious Attention

Construction accidents often result in serious injuries such as concussion, limbs that require amputation, blindness, deafness, paralysis, permanent scarring, and death. Survivors often find that their ability to make a living in the future is impacted. That’s why it’s important to keep all your records in order and consult an attorney as soon as possible after construction accidents.

 

 

Consult with the lawyers at Pat Maloney. We’ll help you make the best comeback possible.

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What to Look for in a Work-Related Injury Attorney: Pat Maloney Has It All!

When you need a work-related injury attorney, you want one who covers all the bases. With over 50 years of service in the San Antonio area, the lawyers of the Law Offices of Pat Maloney have all the skills you need to make your case a success.

 

 

We Are Prepared

 

Our attorneys specialize in the three major categories of personal injuries:

 

  1. Car Accidents.
    In auto accident litigation, our attorneys have handled cases that involved injuries ranging from broken bones to head injuries to career- and life-ending spinal injuries.

 

  1. Trucking Accidents.
    Texas, as a state, has among the highest number of trucks on the road. With so many large vehicles involved in heavily traveled highways, all it takes is a moment’s inattention for a driver to cause serious injury or fatal accidents. Our work-related injury attorneys are well versed in the rules and regulations that are supposed to protect innocent victims of careless truck drivers.

 

  1. Workplace Accidents.
    When you’re hurt at your job and need a work-related injury attorney, our lawyers are there for you and your family because the people most impacted by your inability to work are the loved ones who depend on you. No matter what kind of job you have in any industry, our attorneys are prepared to back you up with a thorough knowledge of applicable state, local, and federal laws.

 

Our Success Rate Is Well Documented

Look no further than our website for a long list of successfully litigated injury cases. We’re proud of our record of making sure our clients receive the full and just amount they’re due for the pain and suffering they’ve endured from someone else’s carelessness.

 

 

We Come Highly Recommended

If the only form of advertisement available was word of mouth, that would be all we would need to call ourselves a success. Our long list of awards and accolades speaks for itself, but past clients’ testimonials are our proudest achievement.

 

 

Our work-related injury attorneys are ready to help you when you suffer a job-related mishap. Contact us as soon as you’re able.

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6 Facts About Workers Compensation — Do You Need an Attorney?

You have pain that started while on the job. You’re certain — or at least strongly suspect — that you might be eligible for workers compensation. You mention it to a friend, and suddenly, you’re being regaled with all kinds of “me too” or “a friend of mine” stories and advice. While well intentioned, keep in mind that you may be hearing more myth than facts.

 

So, what’s the truth?

 

  1. Work-related injuries don’t always occur at the work site. A trip and fall on a construction site, a repetitive stress injury at an office workstation, or an accident on a factory floor are locations most people think of when it comes to workers compensation claims. However, a significant number of injuries occur in car crashes as employees travel for their jobs.
  2. Illnesses, not accidents, account for hundreds of deaths each year. An illness could afflict a worker in a healthcare setting, a factory worker in an industrial setting, or a construction worker exposed to the elements.
  3. Employees of medium-sized companies file more workers compensation claims than those who work for small or large companies. Why? Workers for small firms may assume (or are told) the company is too small to carry coverage; larger corporations tend to have the resources to invest in employee training to minimize accidents and injuries.
  4. Workers compensation laws vary by state. Therefore, it’s important to study and be aware of details like filing deadlines and statutes of limitations — and to take your out-of-state brother-in-law’s advice with a grain of salt.
  5. Workers compensation claims can cross state lines. If a company is based in one state but an employee is injured on a work-related task in another, the employee may be able to file claims in both states.
  6. Every workers compensation claim requires an attorney. Strictly speaking, this isn’t true, but a particularly complicated case (see above re: multi-state claims) or a severe injury that impacts a worker’s physical and/or cognitive capacity will certainly benefit with an attorney’s assistance.

 

Contact us today to find out if your workers compensation claim needs the expertise of a qualified attorney.

 

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4 Reasons to Talk to a Work-Related Injury Attorney

When you suffer a work-related injury, attorney advice will undoubtedly include picking up the phone and calling a lawyer. Many workers, unwilling to be the squeaky wheel or to test their employer’s commitment to their workers, often go along with however the company wants to handle the incident, especially if the injury seems too insignificant at the time to bother “making a big deal” out of it.

 

 

When is the right time to talk to a work-related injury attorney?

 

 

  1. Before Too Much Time Has Passed

Depending on where you live, your window of opportunity to file for worker’s compensation is fairly narrow. By the time you realize that you’re getting the runaround, that your employer isn’t going to cover your expenses, or that your injury is more serious than you first thought, your chance to get what you deserve could be gone.

 

 

  1. When You Need an Advocate

Your employer’s insurance company generally isn’t interested in your welfare — it’s interested in paying out as little as possible. Sure, you may like your colleagues and your boss, but these are separate and distinct from the company’s lawyers and insurance policies. You need a work-related injury attorney who is looking out for your interests and who knows the intricacies of workers’ comp law inside and out. This way, you can concentrate on healing while we do the legwork.

 

 

  1. When Your Expenses Are Mounting

When you’re hurt, everything can become a blur. Weeks go by before you know it, the medical bills start coming in, and you’re unsure who’s supposed to pay them. Worse, you may discover that your regular doctor doesn’t handle work-related injuries and the doctors who do are swamped. One small mistake in a test or billing can send you back to square one. Meanwhile, you aren’t getting a paycheck. A work-related injury attorney can help you make sense of the confusion.

 

 

  1. When Your Employer Says It’s Your Fault

Ideally, you want a work-related injury attorney on your side as soon as possible after an incident occurs. They will advise you on what to do in the event your employer tries to pin liability on you and therefore, refuses to pay.

 

 

Don’t wait for the chips to fall where they may. Call one of our work-related injury attorneys now — sooner rather than later.

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What No One Tells You About Oilfield Fatalities

An oil rig is arguably one of the world’s most dangerous places to work, even in the best of circumstances. Falls and crush injuries account for most oilfield fatalities, but the danger doesn’t stop when a worker is off site. Some of the deadliest incidents happen far from the oil rig itself.

 

Off-Site Vehicle Accidents

  • Oilfield workers are eight times more likely to be involved in a fatal vehicle accident while on the job, a disproportion number of these wrecks happening to employees of well-servicing companies. Because of the sheer number of drilling rigs in Texas, fully one-third of the nation’s oilfield fatalities occur here.
  • Data drawn from the Bureau of Labor and Statistics indicate that fatal vehicle accidents account for 28 percent of all oilfield fatalities, making it the leading cause of death in the industry.
  • More than half of these deadly accidents happen in a pickup truck, which doesn’t require drivers to receive any special training before driving one.
  • Over 50 percent of vehicle accident-related oilfield fatalities were single-vehicle accidents, suggesting that worker fatigue could be a contributing factor — or the fact that many oilfield workers tend to be younger and more likely to take risks.
  • The driver’s failure to use a seatbelt was listed as a contributing factor in most of these deaths. Had they been clicked in place, more than 60 percent of the fatalities could have been avoided.
  • Companies with fewer than 20 employees — and less likely to dedicate adequate time and money toward safety training — had the highest incidence of vehicular oilfield fatalities.
  • As experienced workers retire, younger and less experienced workers take their place. Combine this inexperience with companies more interested in the bottom line than spending extra time and money on safety training, and oilfield fatalities spike.

 

When you’re looking for someone with experience in litigating cases involving oilfield fatalities, contact the Law Offices of Pat Maloney.

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Where to Find an Oilfield Injury Lawyer

Whether on land or sea, oil rigs are among the most dangerous places on earth to work. Accidents can and will happen, and many workers find themselves in need of an oilfield injury lawyer.

 

Where do you find the right kind of help? To start, a good oilfield injury lawyer:

 

  • Knows the industry. The best oilfield injury lawyers have spent time getting their hands dirty in an actual oil industry job. They know what kind of management practices (or lack thereof) can lead to accidents and what rules and regulations were or were not followed.
  • Knows the rigs. They’ll know how an oil rig works and what kind of malfunctions cause the most injuries, from heavy falling objects to chemical burns.
    1. Malfunctioning Equipment: Management may be unwilling to pull a piece of equipment off the line for a recall or overdue service, causing a dangerous situation for the workers who must use it.
    2. Cutting Corners: Managers may encourage shortcuts around established safety procedures in order to speed production.
    3. Transfer Accidents: Cranes are a big reason workers need an oilfield injury lawyer, as getting on and off an oil rig can be one of the trickiest parts of the job.
    4. Pipelines: Oil and gas need to be transported, and pipelines are sites with accident categories all their own.
  • Knows how maritime law affects oilfield regulations. Sea-borne oil rigs are also subject to the additional complexities of maritime law. A good oilfield injury lawyer will have far more than a passing interest in how it works and which laws apply to what situations, such as the Jones Act and the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act.

 

When you need an oilfield injury lawyer with the knowledge and experience to handle your case, call us.

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Most Common Causes of Accidents at Work

You’re careful. Your driving record is spotless. Your nickname definitely isn’t “Crash” or “Klutz.” Why should you have to think about causes of accidents at work? You don’t check your normal caution at the office door, right?

 

Some of the most common causes of accidents at work could surprise you.

 

Overstraining

 

When your supervisor holds training sessions on how to properly lift and move heavy objects, don’t stare off into space, thinking about lunch. Improper technique is the number-one cause of accidents at work. You don’t have to work heavy labor to get the same kinds of injuries. If your office job requires lifting relatively light loads, like books, files, and paper, make sure you’re doing it properly to avoid injury. Even sitting the wrong way in your computer chair can cause a repetitive stress injury.

 

Falls

 

Factory workers certainly must be conscious of obstacles at floor level. But what about office workers? A bottom file cabinet drawer carelessly left open, spilled coffee, a wastebasket not returned to its proper place, or an exposed computer cord can cause just as serious an injury.

 

Everyday Distractions

 

Employees are expected to leave their off-time lives at the office door, but the reality is that day-to-day worries over family, money, and pressing schedules are among the leading causes of accidents at work. If you’re in a texting argument with your teenager, do it while you’re sitting down safely in a chair, not while walking around, glaring at your phone. You might trip over something or walk into a door. At worst, you might forget to follow some other safety procedure and thus endanger someone else.

 

We know you do your best to avoid the main causes of accidents at work. But if the worst happens, call us to ensure that you receive just and fair compensation.

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